Daley names head of O'Hare office

Kelly Quigley

Mayor Richard M. Daley has named veteran city administrator Rosemarie Andolino to head a new office to oversee the controversial $6.6-billion expansion of O'Hare International Airport.
Ms. Andolino, 36, will take the reins from John Harris, who has served as O'Hare project manager for the past two years and now returns his attention full time to his duties as first deputy aviation commissioner.
In her new role as executive director of the O'Hare Modernization Program Office, Ms. Andolino will work closely with federal and city aviation officials, including Mr. Harris. She'll collect an annual salary of $140,000.
Earlier this month the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) set up a modernization office at O'Hare, from where it is reviewing the expansion plans and other aviation issues relevant to the Chicago area.
"I'm pleased that the mayor has confidence in my ability to move this project forward," Ms. Andolino said in a statement. "My experience at the Department of Planning and Development will help me to keep the O'Hare modernization program on time and on budget."
Ms. Andolino has worked for the city since 1990 and with the Department of Planning and Development since 1999, first as managing

Mayor Richard M. Daley has named veteran city administrator Rosemarie Andolino to head a new office to oversee the controversial $6.6-billion expansion of O'Hare International Airport.

Ms. Andolino, 36, will take the reins from John Harris, who has served as O'Hare project manager for the past two years and now returns his attention full time to his duties as first deputy aviation commissioner.

In her new role as executive director of the O'Hare Modernization Program Office, Ms. Andolino will work closely with federal and city aviation officials, including Mr. Harris. She'll collect an annual salary of $140,000.

Earlier this month the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) set up a modernization office at O'Hare, from where it is reviewing the expansion plans and other aviation issues relevant to the Chicago area.

"I'm pleased that the mayor has confidence in my ability to move this project forward," Ms. Andolino said in a statement. "My experience at the Department of Planning and Development will help me to keep the O'Hare modernization program on time and on budget."

Ms. Andolino has worked for the city since 1990 and with the Department of Planning and Development since 1999, first as managing deputy commissioner and then as first deputy commissioner. During that time she managed a $35 million budget, oversaw $100 million in land acquisitions and capital investments in the Neighborhoods Alive programs and helped secure state and federal funding for various projects, according to the mayor's office.

A spokesman for Mr. Daley said it was always the city's plan for Mr. Harris to return to his primary role once the O'Hare modernization plan advanced to a certain point.

City, suburbs duke it out

Chicago officials had wanted to start the legal process of acquiring and demolishing homes and other properties near O'Hare in the next few weeks, when Gov. Rod Blagojevich is expected to sign O'Hare expansion legislation into law. The city's land grab sparked a lawsuit and a request for an injunction by opponents of the airport expansion plan, including Bensenville, Elk Grove Village, St. John's United Church of Christ, the Rest Haven Cemetery Assn. and several individuals.

On Wednesday, the city agreed to delay its plans until the FAA approves the controversial project. Opponents characterized the delay as a victory and said by postponing the land acquisition, the public will have more time to review the expansion plan and determine if it's the best way to resolve congestion at O'Hare (ChicagoBusiness.com, June 25).